SoCal Utility Invests In Oregon Fuel Cells

As the market for renewables in California continues to grow, so does interest in renewable energy projects conveniently located in lower-priced areas just adjacent to the Golden State, as per a recent investment by Southern California Gas (SoCalGas) to the tune of $1 million in ClearEdge Power, an Oregon fuel cell manufacturer.

SoCalGas considers this investment a strategic addition to its growing clean energy portfolio (which will help it to meet rising requirements mandated by the State of California’s Renewable Portfolio Standards for publicly-owned utilities).
ClearEdge Power logo

SoCalGas started funding fuel cell research and demonstration way back in the 1970s and was a co-founder of the National Fuel Cell Research Center at the University of California Irvine. By surveying emerging fuel cell technologies currently under development by different manufacturers, SoCalGas has been into testing and demonstrating a variety of new designs for sometime, and has invested in especially promising fuel cell manufacturers in order to help accelerate product development.

According to ClearEdge Power, the ClearEdge5 combined heat and power (CHP) fuel cell reduces carbon emissions by one-third and other typical pollutants, such as volatile organic compounds, ash and particulates, to trace levels. These fuel cells can be used by homeowners and business owners to produce power where it’s needed, reducing dependence on the grid.